Switzerland

The Bernina Pass There is a fast way to travel from Milan to Zurich. And then there is the way you will remember. Direct international trains can whisk you between the two cities in a little over three hours, disappearing beneath much of the Alps through the extraordinary Gotthard Base Tunnel. Efficient? Absolutely. But if you have five days rather than five hours, there is another route entirely. Leave Milan on a regional train and travel north beside Lake Como. Spend your f

SBB Gotthard Train crossing the Alps There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about the idea of leaving Paris by train and arriving in Venice a few days later. Not old-fashioned in the sense of being slow or difficult. Quite the opposite. Europe's modern railways have made this journey remarkably easy. High-speed trains carry you from Paris into Switzerland in around four hours. From Zurich, a direct EuroCity crosses the Alps into Italy. Another fast train takes you from

Aerial view of St Gallen, Switzerland Switzerland’s most celebrated train journeys usually promise glaciers, precipitous mountain passes and panoramic carriages. The Voralpen-Express offers something subtler but no less rewarding. Travelling between Lucerne and St Gallen, it crosses the rolling foothills of the Alps rather than their highest peaks. Over a little more than two hours, the train passes Lake Lucerne, the distinctive silhouettes of the Rigi and Mythen mountains, p

Oeschinensee Lake, Switzerland There are destinations that become famous because they are easy to photograph, and there are others that stay with you because of how they make you feel. Oeschinensee belongs firmly in the second category. Long before the lake appears, the journey itself begins to slow your pace. Trains leaving Bern climb steadily into the Bernese Oberland, passing immaculate villages, flower-filled meadows and timber chalets backed by dramatic limestone peaks.

Lake Geneva by Train Some railway journeys are spectacular because they climb into mountains. Others succeed because they remain close to the water. The route along the northern shore of Lake Geneva belongs firmly in the second category. Leaving Lausanne, trains slip between terraced vineyards and the lake, passing stone villages, church towers and rows of vines that descend almost impossibly towards the water. Across the lake, the French Alps rise in the distance. Ahead lie

Mount Pilatus Cogwheel Railway Some Swiss mountain journeys are famous because of the view. Mount Pilatus is famous because of the way you get there. From Lucerne, the journey combines lake, rail, mountain and sky in one extraordinary day: a boat across Lake Lucerne, the world’s steepest cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad, a summit high above central Switzerland, and a descent by cable car and gondola towards Kriens. It is one of the most complete day trips in Switzerland. And

Locarno feels different from the Switzerland most visitors expect. The mountains are still there, rising steeply above the lake. Trains still arrive with Swiss precision. Yet there is a softness to the landscape and a slower rhythm to daily life that sets this corner of the country apart. Set on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, Locarno sits where Alpine scenery meets southern culture. On some days the lake sparkles beneath blue ski

Sunset at Lej Pitschen at The Bernina Pass, Graubünden, Switzerland Few rail journeys in the world are as instantly recognisable as the Bernina route. Images of red trains crossing high stone viaducts, glaciers in the background and lakes reflecting the sky have become almost shorthand for “scenic travel in Switzerland.” But what most people don’t realise is that the best way to experience this journey is not necessarily the famous panoramic train. It’s doing it independently

Venice by Night Venice changes completely after dark. By early evening, the day-trippers begin drifting back toward the station and airport buses, leaving the city quieter, softer and far more atmospheric. Vaporetto lights shimmer across the canals, footsteps echo through narrow alleys, and restaurant tables begin filling with Venetians rather than tour groups. It is at this hour that Venice feels most suited to departure. Boarding the overnight train north from Venezia Santa

Zurich by Night There is a point, somewhere after leaving Zurich, when the city lights disappear and the train begins climbing south toward the Alps. The dining car slowly empties. Conversations soften. Reflections from station platforms give way to darkness and mountain silhouettes. By midnight, most passengers have disappeared behind compartment doors as the Nightjet continues through Switzerland toward Italy. By morning, you wake approaching Rome. Not an airport outside th

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Bern Switzerland Why Go in Spring? Spring is when Bern feels quietly magical. The winter chill fades, terraces begin to fill, and the Aare River glows an almost surreal turquoise as snowmelt flows down from the Alps. Temperatures typically range from 14–20°C, perfect for walking the city’s arcaded streets and riverside paths. It’s also one of the best times to experience Bern without the summer crowds. The Old Town feels lived-in rather than busy — calm, elegant, and deeply a

Interlaken, Switzerland, overlooking the Aare River at dusk Why Go in Spring? Spring in Interlaken feels like a quiet awakening. Snow still lingers on the high peaks, but down in the valleys everything begins to soften — meadows turn bright green, waterfalls surge with snowmelt, and the lakes shift from deep winter blue to shimmering turquoise. Temperatures typically range from 12–20°C, making it ideal for walking without the summer crowds. It’s also one of the best times to

Lugano Old Town Lugano feels different from the rest of Switzerland. Set in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, it blends Swiss efficiency with a softer, Mediterranean atmosphere — palm trees, lakeside promenades, and sun-filled piazzas. In spring, Lugano is at its best. The lake shimmers, flowers bloom along the waterfront, and temperatures are often warmer than elsewhere in Switzerland, making it perfect for a relaxed, scenic long weekend. Arriving by train places you ju

Basel, Switzerland Basel is one of Europe’s most underrated city breaks — especially in spring. Sitting on the Rhine at the meeting point of Switzerland, France, and Germany, it blends culture, history, and a relaxed riverside lifestyle in a way few cities can. This is a city made for wandering. And in spring, when the trees are in bloom and café terraces spill onto the streets, it feels effortlessly alive. Why Go in Spring? Spring is arguably the best time to visit Basel. Mi

Aerial View of Geneva Geneva in spring is calm, elegant, and quietly beautiful. The lake shimmers in soft light, the Alps reappear from winter haze, and parks begin to bloom with locals back outdoors. It’s not a loud city — but that’s exactly the appeal. Geneva is about slow walks, long lunches, and understated scenery, all easily explored by train and on foot. This guide covers how to spend a spring weekend in Geneva, including the best walks, where to eat, where to stay, an

Aerial view of GoldenPass Line through Gstaad village in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland Some of Switzerland’s rail journeys are dramatic. The GoldenPass Line is something different — softer, more graceful, and quietly spectacular . Running from Montreux on Lake Geneva to Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland, this route feels like a moving postcard: vineyards, wooden chalets, rolling meadows, waterfalls, and wide alpine skies. In spring , it becomes one of the most beautiful

Aerial view of the Old Town of Lucerne at sunset If Switzerland had a “perfect introduction,” it might just be Lucerne — and in spring, it feels even more special. Set on the edge of a shimmering lake and framed by snow-dusted mountains, this compact city comes alive as the season shifts. Lakeside paths begin to fill with walkers, café terraces reopen, and the first Alpine trails start to emerge from winter. It’s a place that feels made for travellers — beautiful, accessible,

Glacier Express on Landwasserviaduct, Filisur, Grisons, Switzerland There are train journeys, and then there are experiences that become the highlight of an entire trip. The Glacier Express sits firmly in the second category. Stretching across the heart of the Swiss Alps, this legendary route connects the car-free mountain village of Zermatt with the glamorous resort town of St. Moritz. But calling it simply a train ride doesn’t do it justice. This is a slow, cinematic journe